Lead-alkali metal containing bearing-metal alloys



Patented 6, UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

enone wanna, or raAuxroar-oN-Tnn-mlim, Gunman, assrenea, BY mnsma:sremms, 'IO ALLIED raocass conroaa'rxon, or NEW 2033,11. z, a consona-TION OF NEW YORK.

LEAD- ALKALI METAL conramme BEARING-METAL annoys.

No Drawing. Application filed July 13,.1925, Serial No. 48,393, and inGermany Jfuly 24, 1924i In a prior application, Serial Number 13,633,-filed March 6, 1925,' there are de.

scribed bearing-metal alloys consisting essentially of lead withadditions of lithium in combination with one or more other alkali metalssuch as sodium or potassium, or. sodlum and-potass um, each alkali metal1n quantity not exceeding about 1% ,of-the alloy. Such alloys possessvaluable bearingof lithium 0.3% of sodium and0.4 of cal-- againstcorrosiq'n. The present 'invention 1s an improvement upon that describedin said prior appl1ca- .found that the .metal addition- .usualzefiectsof such additions ma metal properties with respect to, for instance,hardness or rigidity, resistivity to shocks, casting qualities, meltingpoint, compression strength, sliding or friction characteristics, andparticularly, as compared with previously known lead-bearing metal'alloys containing alkali metal and alkaline earth metal additions, ahigh resistivity tion and-resides in the discovery that the lithiumcontent of such lead bearing-metal alloys may be reduced to only aproper fraction of 0.1% and the sodium and potassium content to lessthan 0.5% with a corresponding increase in the resistivity 'ofthe alloysagainst corrosion, while :at the same time preserving or even improvingthe mechanical bearing-metal properties referred to.

sample 1.An alloy containing 0.05% of lithium, 0.3% of sodium and'theremaim der principally lead has a resistivity to shock of 12 to 13 kg.per mm. and a hardness of kg. per mm?. sisting of contactin the alloywith steam for a period of ten aye, the corrosion produced was smallerthan with soft lead.

Itis known that the properties of bearingmetal alloys consistingessentially of lbad and containing alkali metalsare-improved byadditions of alkaline earth metals. According to the present inventionit has been uantity oii'alkaline earth iiecessary to produce the be farbelow that heretofore employed an regarded as necessary in'thebearing-metal alloys. e improvement or the properties of the alloys of.the present 'mvention by alkaline earth metal additions is mostfavorable en. the additions amount to not morethan 0.

EaampZe'2. An alloy containing 0.05%

In a corrosion test conroduction of lead cium and the remainderprincipally lead, has a resistivity to shock oil 14 110*15 kg.

per mm. and a hardness of 40 kg. per mm,

and also possesses excellent casting 'andslide ing properties- Itsmelting point lies the neighborhood of 350 and the bearingtemperatureunder a load off4.8 tons rises to, for example, only about 552' In.-.acor- IOSIOII test conslsting ofcontacting the alloy withsteam fora-periodof ten days, the

corrosion produced was'of scarcely measurable depth. 1

The alloys can, according to the purpose for which they are designedand'the special properties desired, contain the customary additions ofcopper, nickel, cobalt, zinc,

magnesium, bismuth, cadmium,- arsenic, antimony, tin, aluminum,siliconand selenium, as well as phosphorus and. sulfur. quantites ofsuch addition agents must how ever not be so large as to reduce theaction of the essential alloying agents.

The

Emampl 3.-An alloy containing 0.03%-

of lithium, 0.4% of sodium and 0.5% of calcium and 0.1% aluminum and0.05%.silicon (or 0.2% copperpr 0.5% nickel etc.) and the remainderprmcipally lead has a resistivit to shock-of 16 to 18 kg. per mmiand ahar I ness of 40 to 45 kg. per mm}. In'a corro examples may besubstituted by equa amounts of potassium or supplemented b additions ofpotassium in quantity pre erably not exceeding about 0.1%.

The alloys of the present invention may be made in the usual way, forexample,

bymelting the ingredients together referably using preliminary allo s-ofthe ali and alkaline earth metal ad 'tions such as alloys of sodium andlithium, lithium and potassium, or sodium-potassium andlith o ium.Other'methods of formin' the alloys,

for instance, byselectrolysis, di us'ion,-'compressing owders of. theingredients. etc.,' may also v e; employed.

Glaimsza 1. Bearing metal alloys tially of. lead and cdlggrising' inucejan appreciable .hardemng effect but not in ofabout quantitysufiicient top 0.05% and an appreciable amount of at least ,tially oneother alkali metal not substantially in excess of about 0.5%.

2. Bearingmetal alloys consisting essentially of lead and comprisinglithium in quantity sufficient to pro uce an appreciable hardemnefiectbut not inexcess of about 0.05% an an appreciable amount of sodiumnot substantially in excess of about 0.5%.

3.. Bearing metal alloys consisting essenquantity suificient to pro ucean appreciable hardemng. effect but not in excess of about 0.05%,anappreciable amount of sodium not substantially in excess of about0.5%,and an appreciable amount of potassium not substantia1ly in excess ofabout 0.1%.

' 4. Bearing metal alloys consisting essenquantity sufficient to ptially of lead and comprising lithium in 1 an alkaline earth metal notsubstantially in excess of about 0.5%.

' 5. Bearing metal alloys consisting'essentially of lead andcorrgglrliciirggl iigfifii;

of lead and com rising lithium in.

hardening efiect but not in excess of about 0.05%, an appreciable amountof sodium not substantiall in excess of about 0.5%, and

an apprecia 1e amount of an alkaline earth quantity suflicient to prouce an appreciable hardening efiiect but not in excess of about 0.05%,an appreciable amount of sodium not substantially in excess of about0.5%, an appreciable amount of potassium not substantially in. excess ofabout/0.1%, and an appreclable amount of an alkaline earth metal notsubstantially in excess of about 0.5%.

7-. Bearing metal alloys consisting essentially of lead and comprisinglithium in quantity suflicient to produce an appreciable hardeningeffect but not in excess of about 0.05%, an appreciable amount of sodiumnot substantially in excess of about 0.5%, an appreciable amount ofpotassium not substantially in excess of about 0.1%, and an a preclableamount of calcium not substantia y in excess of about 0.5%.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

GEORG WELTER.

